Do you know what's in the air you breathe? According to a recent analysis by a committee of the National Academy of Sciences' National Research Council, exposure to the ozone in smog is clearly linked to premature deaths.

A 13-member panel concluded that its review of health-based studies showed strong evidence that even short-term exposure of up to 24 hours to ozone can exacerbate lung conditions, leading to illness, hospitalization, and possibly, death. Premature death from ozone exposure is higher among individuals with lung and heart disease, but it is not restricted to these high risk groups. Although previous reports suggested an insufficient connection between smog and premature, this new analysis supports the measurement of health and mortality data, in addition to economics, when evaluating the benefits of clean air and implementing environmental policy for emissions standards.